Threshers Win a Thriller!

The Clearwater Threshers took on the Brevard County Manatees in game two of their series looking to pick up another game on the first place team. Aftyer being held hitless through the first three innings the offense came alive in the fourth frame. Javis Diaz led the inning off with a double, and then scored on a dominic brown single. Time Kennelly followed up with a ground rule double to send Brown to third, and then Dominic would score with Matt Rizzotti picking up the RBI.

With Kyle Drabek on the hill the Manatees were finally able to get a run of their own home in the bottom of the fourth by taking advantage of a wild pitch to turn a strike out into a man on first to lead off. A single, a sac bunt, and a fielder’s choice later the Manatees had manufactured a run and pulled to within a run of the Clearwater squad.

Things stayed 2-1 all the way to the eighth inning with both side’s pitching dominating the game. Zack Sterner cam on for the Threshers in the sixth putting up two scoreless innings on two his the get them to that point.

Fidel Hernandez led off the top of the eighth with a double (the Threshers fifth of the game) but the team was unable to get him home, so with nine outs to go in the game the Clearwater Threshers clung to their 2-1 lead.

Chris Kissock took the hill in the bottom of the frame for the Threshersand set the Manatees down in order, so thinks looked better going to the final inning of work.

Jared Simon took the hill for the good guys in the Manatees final at bat, so the game was in his hands to end in reulation. Things got dicey quickly with Simon giving up a two hits, and then hitting a batter to load bases for the Manatees. A sac fly would drive in the tying run and suddenly we found the game in extra innings with the Threshers needing a score and momentum on the side of the Manatees.

Fortunately for the Threshers they had the top of their order coming to bat in the first overtime, and the top of the team’s order proved up to the task of securing a win. Against a Manatees pitcher who brough a 0.71 ERA into the game Javis Diaz gave the Mantees their first out of the inning, but Fidel Hernandez crushed a home run next to put the Clearwater Threshers up. Dominic Brown walked, and then Tim Kennelly picked up his third double of the game to send Brown home for a 4-2 Threshers lead. The team managed one more hit from Yonderman Rodriguez before ending their at bat, but the pressure was squarely on the first place Manatees to salvage a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Jared Simon was sent to the hill in the 10th for the Threshers after having given up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth, and once again things got ugly quickly. Simon surrendered back-to-back singles to start things off, and a throwing error by Tim Kennelly sent the lead off batter to third. Simon was then lifted to bring in Walter Tejeda for just his third appearance of the year since beginning the season on the DL. Tejeda would get an out on a sac bunt, and then surrender a walk to load the bases. He then threw a wild pitch that allowed the runner from third to score, and suddenly the Manatees were within one run with just one out and men on second and third.

Tejeda got the second out of the inning with a K, but then issued a walk to load the bases for the Manatees. Fortunately he buckled down and struck the final batter out to get his team a win in a nail biter.

YIKES…!

Fidel Hernandez & Tim Kennelly pick up the co-SCHMIDT LIST player of the game award for their work in the 10th inning at the plate.

IN BONUS NEWS:

Okay, I admit it. I had too much time on my hands this weekend. The Threshers were out of town, and my wife worked all weekend, so what’s a guy to do? I worked on some new designs for the THRESHERS NATION SHOP so check them out.

Also, if you are a FACEBOOK user, my boredom is your gain. I’ve created several terrific applications and quizzes for you to amuse yourself with.